Our family loves to hike in different places as this keeps the kids interested in walking and there are always new things to find each time we go out for a family hike. All of the hiking trails near Rancocas Creek are loved by my children. They love to hike in places where they can see water. We think your kids will too.
Burlington County’s Rancocas Creek provides many areas that are always pleasant to hike. The Rancocas Creek is a large tributary of the Delaware River and there are many parks that hug its curves. It was named by early Europeans in the area. They named it for Remkokes, a king of the surrounding lands amongst the Lenape.
Before you hike near Rancocas Creek
Before going out to hike near the Rancocas Creek we are always sure to have sunblock, bug spray, water, hats, long pants, socks and sneakers or boots. We also like looking at this short bird guide for birds usually seen in Burlington County, to help us identify them.
Best Places to Hike Near Rancocas Creek in Moorestown
Moorestown is well known for its downtown area but few people realize it has many hiking trails near Rancocas Creek as well. It has many preserved open spaces throughout its town and a list of those can be found at https://www.moorestown.nj.us/511/Preserved-Open-Spaces—Hiking-Trails.
STEM (Save the Environment of Moorestown) is a group of citizens who help to maintain these spaces. There are always new projects they are working on that contribute to the greenery that is a large part of Moorestown’s charm.
Boundary Creek Park
- Boundary Creek Park is located at 515 Creek Road in Moorestown, NJ 08057.
- Park at the circular parking lot at this address. There are also a few spots along the side of the road as you are leaving the parking lot.
- There are two single public indoor restrooms whose doors are easily seen from the parking lot.
Hiking Trails near Rancocas Creek at Boundary Creek Park
Boundary Creek Park is my favorite place to go in the area. Here you are able to see three different settings in one hike, near Rancocas Creek, by getting to view the forest, creek and fields within 1.3 miles of trails in the shape of the infinity symbol. The hiking trails are very well maintained by the Burlington County Parks System and most of it has a lot of trees so it is fairly cool when you are walking even on a hot day.
At the sides of the hiking trails near Rancocas Creek there are also benches sporadically placed. Along the trail there are different boardwalk outcroppings that lead to bird blinds and spectacular creek views. Some of these have permanently mounted observation binoculars/viewfinders. Towards the end of the trail the last portion of it has a meadow. This is a great place to see butterflies and insects.
For anyone who plays Pokemon Go there are also a plethora of Pokestops and gyms at Boundary Creek Park that are pictured below.
For someone visiting Boundary Creek Park with a stroller I would recommend doing the Orchard Perimeter Trail (this actually used to be the site of peach orchards). To see a map of the trails view the park brochure.
Boundary Creek Park is a great place to go if you are a birdwatcher or want to do a homeschool lesson about birds. There are many plaques scattered around the park depicting the various bird species making it easy to identify at least a few bird varieties, even for a novice birdwatcher like myself. Our favorites to see are the woodpeckers.
If you stop and stay quietly behind the bird blinds you may be lucky enough to see even more avian species in the tidal wetlands. If you look along the sides of the boardwalks you might even spot a frog or a turtle.
At the front of Boundary Creek Park there are restrooms available that are adjacent to the parking lot. There are also picnic tables. It is a great spot to enjoy a picnic lunch. A few large swaths of grass make it the perfect place for kids to run around to get their energy out. In the wintertime it is a fun place to play in the snow. There are also drinking fountains nearby.
A little further back there is a gazebo at the stone overlook that my kids enjoy playing inside. This also has some seating. Be sure to check out the human sundial on the way back to the parking lot. You will see it from any of the Boundary Creek Park hiking trails if you do a shorter loop rather than the larger one encompassing the whole park.
Occasionally, there are programs happening at Boundary Creek Park.
- The Young Naturalist Program for children ages thirteen to eighteen is free and from July 26th to August 9th from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. A BioBlitz biological survey will be completed in regards to butterflies and other pollinators.
- There is also a Wetlands Walk on July 13th at 10 am for all ages.
- To register for upcoming programs please visit this their site.
Little Woods on the Rancocas
- Little Woods on the Rancocas is located at the coordinates of 39.9985664, -74.8900251. When taking 295 take exit 43B. Once you go off the exit you will soon see the sign for it on your right hand side once you pass the traffic light.
- Parking is on the side of the road right in front of the Little Woods on the Rancocas sign. There is space for about 4 to 5 cars.
- Restrooms are not available.
Hiking Trails near Rancocas Creek at Little Woods on the Rancocas
Little Woods on the Rancocas is an almost untouched paradise. The trail is marked with white markers and it is mostly dirt and grass that is flattened from other hikers. Parts of the trail are steep so this would be a trail to use a baby carrier on and leave the stroller at home.
When starting out there is lots of tall grass and other varieties of vegetation that attracts many butterflies to the beginning portion of the trail. Then you pass through an interesting section with lots of felled trees that are still surviving with extensive root systems. After that you come out to various spots where you can get views of the Rancocas Creek.
Clearer views are available in the late fall and winter when there is less greenery on the trees. My daughter enjoys seeing the lily pads. There is also a spot at a higher elevation with two benches. This would be a great spot to stop for a snack. The total distance of this hiking trail near the Rancocas Creek is about a mile long.
If you want a great place to see wildlife such as deer this is the best spot because it is so quiet. Few other people are likely to be hiking since it has limited parking. Go to this website to view its location on the map and a trail map.
More hiking trails in Moorestown not near Rancocas Creek but still great trails to hike with kids
Strawbridge Lake
- Strawbridge Lake is located at 13 Haines Drive in Moorestown, NJ 08057.
- Park at this address. There are multiple free small parking lots along this entire road. Each of these have spaces for a few cars and are located close to the lake. There are also some boat launch sites here.
For the Play Pals area enter Strawbridge Lake Park off of Church Street. Continue on Haines Drive (road that runs along the lake) for several hundred yards past the first small gravel parking area on the left. The Play Pals area is located just past the gravel parking area, on the left, just before you reach the green pergola.
- Restrooms are not available.
Hiking at Strawbridge Lake
Our favorite part of Strawbridge Lake is the Play Pals area of Strawbridge Lakes Park. If you have young kids this is definitely a place they would enjoy. There are two giant teddy bears there that are made out of stone. This is a great place to have them bring their own teddy bears and have a teddy bear picnic on the grass. In the winter my kids enjoyed clearing the snow off of them and giving them a bath with the snow.
Strawbridge Lake has a pergola with seating very close to it as well that my kids love. It is a short distance away from the playground area (entrance off of Church Street). This is known as Haines Park. There were new playground equipment pieces recently installed there in the early portion of 2021. There are also picnic benches alongside the playground.
Strawbridge Lake was actually built as part of a New Deal initiative. For exercise there is a paved path where you can walk alongside the water between that and the road. You get picturesque water views as well as views of gorgeous houses on the opposite side of the road. Since it is rarely too crowded this would be a great place to exercise if you are a runner.
Farrago Farm Trail
- Farrago Farm Trail is located at 900 Borton Landing Road in Moorestown, NJ.
- Park in the grass next to the Farrago Farm Trail sign at the side of the road.
- Restrooms are not available.
Hiking at Farrago Farm Trail
The Farrago Farm Trail is a great place to hike if you enjoy solitude. Parking is in the grass at the side of the road and there is only space for one car so you will likely be the only one on the trail. Here there is 19 acres of open space and three quarters of a mile of trails. There are no trail markings but it is easy to see where the trail is located.
If you look at the trees you can spy nests of various birds as well as eastern tent caterpillar nests. The parts of the Farrago Farm Trail with trees make you feel like you are walking through a tunnel of greenery. Hikers can also see plenty of birch trees and honeysuckle. There is also a monarch waystation.
The Farrago Farm Trail hiking trail goes through fields and the woods. The trail is mostly packed down with grass and at one point you cross over a driveway. For this hike you could use a stroller if it had all-terrain wheels. Stick to the trail as parts of the pathway are behind backyards of people’s homes.
Best Places to Hike Near Rancocas Creek in Delran
Delran is a township with a multitude of great hiking trails through its parks as well as lakes and playgrounds. While it is most famous for Amico Island it has other hiking spots that are great to check out as well. Creek Road and the Rancocas Creek run through Delran so there are a multitude of places where you can get some great water views.
Laurel Run Park
- Laurel Run Park is located at 237 Creek Road in Delran, NJ 08075.
- Park in the paved parking lot at this address.
- Restrooms are available. There is a portapotty adjacent to the parking lot.
Hiking Trails near Rancocas Creek at Laurel Run Park
Laurel Run Park is a newer addition to the Burlington County Parks System. This would be a great spot to rent the pavilion for an outdoor party since this is right next to the parking area. There are multiple picnic benches as well as a couple charcoal grills. If you start going along the trail to the right you will notice two other picnic benches to your right.
Most of the Laurel Run Park trail has meadows surrounding you that are filled with birds, butterflies and bees. This is a wonderful place to bring a butterfly net. It has sandy trails that are reminiscent of hiking in Assateague. My kids enjoy pretending they are at the beach.
After you round the first bend, on the hiking trail, you can see the Rancocas Creek in the distance. Since there are fewer trees here there are wide open expanses of the creek with less obfuscation by foliage. When walking near the Rancocas Creek portion of the trail there is also one picnic bench alongside the creek.
The Laurel Run Park is a great place to go for an early morning hike near Rancocas Creek as it can get hot later in the day during the summer due to the limited shade. The trail is a bit more bumpy and unpaved so this would be another park best suited for a baby carrier rather than a stroller. There is also a red building at the front of the park that is being used for Farmers Against Hunger.
Amico Island
- Amico Island is located at 81 Norman Avenue in Riverside, NJ 08075.
- Park in the free large parking lot at this address.
- There is a Port-a-Potty available at the front of the park as well as a bike rack.
Hiking Trails near Rancocas Creek at Amico Island
This is one of the most popular destinations for hiking near Rancocas Creek with good reason. When hiking one is able to enjoy forests, fields and waterside overlooks. There is a high payoff with a minimal amount of hiking for some spectacular views. It is a awe-inspiring place to hike if you are an avid bird watcher or if you like to do nature photography.
There are many species of birds as well as other animals at Amico Island. On our most recent hike we were able to see turtles, starlings, cuckoos, grackles, robins, deer, and a Fowler’s toad. Deer are crepuscular so you are more apt to see those when they are active towards dawn and dusk.
The initial part of the various Amico Island hiking trails are in the sun but after that all of the trails are mostly shaded with large trees overhead. Combining that along with the fact that they wrap around the water it actually feels ten degrees cooler when you are hiking under the trees than the actual temperature.
I personally recommend doing all of the Amico Island hiking trails here since each of them offer different amazing views. It is a total of 1.9 miles of trails. It is good to view the trail map ahead of time so that you do not miss any of the vistas. Views are available of the Rancocas Creek, Delaware River, Dredge Marina and the Philadelphia skyline.
My kids favorite place to hike was the North Overlook where you see the confluence of the Rancocas Creek and the Delaware River. They liked this the most since there was also a sandy beach nearby that was full of helicopter seeds for them to throw in the air. The first South Overlook is a great spot to view blue herons that like to roost at the rookery in Dredge Harbor.
At Amico Island there are also a few good spots for fishing. There are also a few beaches where you could pull up a boat as well if you had one to relax and enjoy the views.
Amico Island is a great place to hike with younger or older family members since there are a plethora of benches and picnic tables scattered throughout the trails where you can sit and rest. These are mostly in the shade and some have garbage cans nearby. Many of these are placed strategically next to the best water views which would also make this a romantic place for a date where you are also having a picnic or some snacks.
More hiking trails in Delran not near Rancocas Creek but still great trails to hike with kids
Lake Lonnie
- Lake Lonnie is located at 40° 1’23.30″N, 74°58’20.91″W.
- Park at the end of 5th Street. Go past the end of the chain link fence and make a left into the parking lot.
- Restrooms are not available.
Hiking at Lake Lonnie
Lake Lonnie actually used to be a swimming lake that was a tourist destination for many with its beaches. Now the beaches are full of marsh grass and a great place to look for frogs and toads. It is no longer used for swimming but there are hiking trails around Lake Lonnie.
At Lake Lonnie there are no trail markers but the trail is easy to spot as it loops along the lake. There are spots where you can go to higher or lower ground as well. It is a nice place to visit as it is less crowded than some of the other hiking places in the area.
The Lake Lonnie hiking trail is not always smooth and some parts are more overgrown so this would be a place where a baby carrier would be needed in lieu of a stroller. The hiking trails are a mix of forest and dunes which make you feel like you are doing a hike at the beach.
We recently discovered Lake Lonnie through a GeoCaching Event done by the Delran Green Team where they set up 8 geocaches for people to find on one day. We all enjoyed the event and that we had found a new hiking destination.
About GeoCaching
If interested in starting GeoCaching it is actually very easy. Those were only up for that day but there are many other GeoCaches in the area. Just download the GeoCache app or read our article about geocaching. Then make an account and bring along a pen and a few small items with you when you set out on your adventure. Click on a GeoCache that is located near you and start walking and the app will help you navigate. When you get close be sure to look around for the GeoCache.
GeoCache can be tricky to find since they come in many shapes and sizes but sometimes you are able to get a clue within the app as to its location. The larger ones often have an item you can take and then you leave one of your items within the geocache.
Usually all GeoCache spots have either a logbook or a piece of paper where you can log that you were there and the date you visited. In the app you are also able to mark that you had visited the GeoCache as well. It is an exciting way to liven up your hikes by combining them with a treasure hunt.
Hiking Trails Near Rancocas Creek in Delanco
Delanco is a town next to the Delaware River that also offers hiking at Pennington Park.
Burlington County is now constructing a trail between Amico Island and Pennington Park. This will be a part of the Rancocas Greenway that will eventually stretch from the Delaware River to the border of Ocean County. For more information about this you can visit https://circuittrails.org/find-trails/rancocas-greenway.
Pennington Park
- Pennington Park is located at 801 Creek Road in Delanco, NJ 08075.
- Park at large east or west parking lots
- Construction is currently going on to create a new 4 mile trail between Amico Island and Pennington Park. Currently the parking lot near the dog park is closed as well as some of the trails. Visit this website to see the status of the construction before you visit.
- Restrooms are available near the playground. There are also Port-a-Potties in a few other locations.
Hiking Trails near Rancocas Creek at Pennington Park
When entering Pennington Park you are confronted with two ways to go. If you turn left this will take you to the East Picnic Area, portable restroom and East parking lot. This is the best place to go if you have dogs since they have two dog parks which are divided up for larger and smaller dogs. There is also a trail head here.
When we arrive we most often take a right after we enter the park. This takes you to the West Picnic Area, Community Gardens and Play areas for kids, an indoor restroom for kids and the large West Parking Lot.
My kids favorite place to start the trails is to start to the left of the playground area. If you go even further to the left you can see even more paved Pennington Park trails that are great for bikers.
Pennington Park is the best park in the area for bicyclists. There are lots of bike trails throughout this park that are well maintained. Towards the front of the park on the West side there is a large community gardens area that can be leased seasonally. If interested in leasing one of these please contact Tim at (856) 642-3850.
There are also two playgrounds, grills and drinking fountains. If having an event this is also a good park for reserving a pavilion. Rental information can be found at https://secure.rec1.com/NJ/burlington-county-nj-/catalog.
My family first discovered Pennington Park hiking trails near the Rancocas Creek, through a kid’s hike with L.L. Bean. After our hike we learned there are multitudinous types of trees in this park so this would be a great place to learn tree identification (especially in the fall once some of their leaves are on the ground).
We always enjoy the differing topography including meadows, wetlands, marshes, tidal ponds and boardwalks over the wetlands at Pennington Park. Pause when walking over the boardwalks as you are apt to see frogs and birds if you look around and stand quietly for a few minutes.
Pennington Park is a 140 acre park with a total of 3.8 miles of trails with 1.5 miles of it being a paved pathway. I would also recommend hiking on a lot of the other smaller trails as well since there are cool features such as bird blinds and observation platforms with fixed binoculars to view the wildlife that are little offshoots of these trails.
The hiking at Pennington Park is all flat so it is easy for younger kids to do as well. Check out the trail map before you visit Pennington Park.
Hiking Trails Near Rancocas Creek in Hainesport
Hainesport was initially called Sandhickney by the Lenni-Lenape Indians. They settled the land due to its fertility from its creek proximity as well as its ideal spot for trading. Later it was known as Long Bridge since there was a long wooden bridge that crossed the Rancocas Creek.
This was later dismantled during the Revolutionary War to slow down the British soldiers’ march across New Jersey. In 1847 Barclay Haines purchased 50 acres of land and the settlement he created was known as Hainesport by 1852.
Long Bridge Park
- Long Bridge Park is located at 895 Deacon Rd in Hainesport, NJ 08036.
- Park in the large lot adjacent to the playgrounds and picnic areas.
- Restrooms are available. They are indoors and right next to the parking lot.
Hiking Trails near Rancocas Creek at Long Bridge Park
Hiking at Long Bridge Park is a great experience as it is a prime location for a scavenger hunt. I have included one that I made myself with things frequently found in this park for kids to find that you can print out before you visit.
For younger kids there are lots of interesting things such as an insect hotel, bird feeders, bird blinds, playgrounds, fallen trees, seeds and more. This would also make a fascinating place to do a homeschool class about insects since there are a plethora of interesting ones here to view. This is likely due to the tidal marshland and the freshwater pond at this location.
My husband also took the kids here in October where they were able to witness the blooming of the Large Bur Marigolds as well as the wild rice ripening in the marshland that attracts blackbirds to the area.
This park is managed by the Burlington County Parks Department so the trails are marked well with trail markers and signs telling you the different types of things you will encounter in each direction. Long Bridge Park welcomes cross country skiers, bikers with all terrain bikes, and snowshoers to this park. The park encompasses 115 acres and has a variety of topography.
My kids favorite part about the hikes at Long Bridge Park is the very long boardwalk at the start of the trails. We most recently completed the blue trail which was easy to navigate and this one had views of the creek in a few different spots. There was a bird blind and a few benches scattered along the way which made for convenient spots for water breaks. It was a nice hike to do on a hotter day since it was mostly shaded by the tall trees.
Hiking Trails Near Rancocas Creek in Eastampton
Smiths Woods Park
- Smiths Woods Park is located at 39 E Railroad Avenue in Eastampton Township, NJ 08060.
- Park at the large lot here or the smaller lot on W Railroad Ave.
- Restrooms are available that are indoors and near the playground.
Hiking Trails near Rancocas Creek at Smiths Woods
Hiking at Smiths Woods Park is a phenomenal way to hike near the Rancocas Creek in a new way. There are a few places with canoe access. Near the large parking lot there is a playground, picnic benches, pavilions and a butterfly garden.
Smiths Woods Park is a 312 acre park that has views of Rancocas Creek as well as Smithville Lake. It is the most well known for its 600 foot floating walkway over Smithville Lake on the green trail. Trails have paint markers on the trees and on some signs. At the end of the red trail you can see the former factory complex and along it you get views of the Rancocas Creek.
Since there are multiple bridges and some parts are more steep these Smiths Woods Park hiking trails may be best for slightly older kids. If coming with younger kids you may find it best to hike near Smithville Park. The whole area has 4.5 miles of marked hiking trails and it is a place where you can easily return multiple times to hike.
Smithville Park is also located nearby at 803 Smithville Road in Eastampton, NJ. Restrooms and a visitor’s center are also available here. Hiking here is very stroller friendly and you get to see the Smithville mansion and grounds of the former industrial town.
There are many events held at Smiths Woods Park that are usually free through the Burlington County Parks Association. Some of these require a reservation so to make one and see upcoming events visit their website. To see further information about this park and all of the amazing things that can be done here visit our guide to things to do in Historic Smithville Park with Kids.